Jiba (Tenrikyo)

In the Tenrikyo religion, the Jiba (Japanese: ぢば, 地場, 中心), also known as the Ojiba (おぢば), is the axis mundi where adherents believe that God created humankind.

In Japanese, using kanji, Jiba can be written as 地場, and Ojiba as 御地場.

Kokan, Nakata, Matsuo, Masu Tsuji, Yosuke of Ichieda Village, and others walked blindfolded, in turn.

In the context of Tenrikyo's creation narrative, the Jiba is said to be the spot where Izanagi-no-Mikoto and Izanami-no-Mikoto, the models of husband and wife, conceived the first children.

The scriptures also assert that Jiba is the place where God the Parent and the everliving Oyasama reside.

Adherents believe that when the hearts of human beings have been adequately purified through the Service, a sweet dew would fall from the heavens onto a vessel placed on top of the stand.